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The charity making life better by water

Group of school children on the towpath gather around a Canal & River Trust colleague with their arms raised to answer a question.

Learning and enhancing skills

Our canals and rivers provide unique spaces for outdoor learning, connecting with nature, building character and resilience, developing employability skills, and preparing for adult life.

Culture and Environment

Providing opportunities for young people

1,316,500 school children are located within one kilometre of a canal or river. We're offering learning programmes to connect them with nature.

940883

children

benefitted from our learning resources or attended sessions

192

education volunteers

helped deliver learning to children and young people

Nearly 2,900 schools and over 1.2 million people aged 15-24 years live within one kilometre of a canal or river. Many of them are within the UK's most economically disadvantaged areas.

Young people across the country are dealing with challenges in education, job opportunities, and social mobility.

The gap in grades between disadvantaged students and their peers is significant. Outcomes for the poorest students in long-term poverty haven't improved in the last ten years. This disadvantage can have a lasting impact on individuals and continue through generations.

There is a higher percentage of people with no qualifications, unemployment, and those belong to the lowest socioeconomic group living in communities next to water.

However, our canal network offers opportunities for those facing the greatest inequalities in England and Wales. We develop activities with feedback from children, teachers, education providers, partners, and experts.

From teacher to joiner

Michelle was previously a teacher. In her mid-30's, she decided it was time for a career change. She's on a two-year apprenticeship scheme at our Stanley Ferry Workshops where we hand make our lock gates from sustainably grown oak. She's the first female joiner in the workshop.

  • Read the film transcript

    So I used to be a teacher and in my mid-30s I thought, right, it’s time for a career change. The Trust is amazing, they’re doing wonderful things. As employers, they’re really a good employer to work for.

    This was the only apprenticeship that I applied for, and I luckily got it. I’m completely learning how to make the lock gates. So, whilst I’m here, I’m shadowing my colleagues that I work with, I’m picking up the different skills, I’m putting those skills into practice. They’re letting me have a go, you know, make mistakes, it’s fine. They’re here to support me. And then I also go down to London for two weeks every so often for college. So I’m bringing my skills from London up to here and I’m taking what I learned here down to London in my college course.

    After my two years is finished, I want to stay here. I want to be a joiner. It’s a great place to work. I’m really, you know, all the lads have been really friendly, make me feel right at home, and as the first female joiner in this workshop, they’ve been fantastic. I’m sure it’s been a big learning curve for them as well. But, yeah, it’s a great place to work so I’m happy to be here.

Our impact on learning and enhancing skills

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    Last Edited: 01 March 2024

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